The government has stated that it will deal ruthlessly with students who destroy school property in their attempt to register their displeasure over certain policies or directives.
According to a Deputy Minister of Education, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, such acts, especially from students who had been dismissed for not passing their examinations, constituted an affront to the country’s education system.
“Standards are very high at the tertiary level; if you do not meet certain minimum performance, you will be expelled. You can reapply, but as for the standards, you have to meet them,” he stated.
The minister was speaking at Accra Polytechnic’s Bachelor of Technology congregation.
The ceremony, which was the third since the school started its degree programme, saw the award of certificates to 89 students.
Mr Ablakwa, therefore, cautioned students not to resort to violence in voicing their grievances and warned that any student found culpable of destroying property of any education institution would face the full rigour of the law.
“We are not going to allow a few people to terrorise our institutions. If you refuse to learn in order to pass your exams and you are dismissed, please go home alone and do not disturb the peace of those ready to learn,” he stated.
The minister made reference to the recent unrest by some students at the Mampong College of Education who destroyed school property after they were expelled for failing in a core subject, stating that such students “should be ashamed for resorting to violence when they know that their performance do not meet the standard required by the college”.
The Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Sylvester Achio, appealed to the Ministry of Finance to give the school the needed clearance to enable it to replace 66 members of staff who had either gone on retirement or resigned.
He pointed out that although part-time staff could be used to “hold the fort, the school did not have the needed funds to pay their salaries”.
The Chairman of the governing council of the school, Mr Enock Teye Mensah, advised the graduands to eschew all forms of vices, since such negative behaviours could adversely affect their future. “Your future is in your hands, therefore, do not be distracted by unnecessary happenings; seize this opportunity to climb high,” he admonished.
